Straightening machine

ABSTRACT

HORIZONTAL PLANE ALSO. MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE VERTICAL ADJUSTING MEANS WITH THE HORIZONTAL ROLL-MOVING MEANS PERMIT BOTH TO BE ADJUSTED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN A SINGLE OPERATION. A STRAIGHTENING MACHINE HAS UPPER AND LOWER ROWS OF LATERALLY SPACED ROLLS WITH PARALLEL HORIZONTAL AXES. EXTENDING AWAY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROLLS IN ONE ROW ARE SUPPORTING SHAFTS THAT ARE SUPPORTED FOR ROTATION AND AXIAL ADJUSTMENT. THE OTHER ROLLS ARE DRIVEN TO CARRY AN ELONGATED METAL WORKPIECE ALONG BETWEEN THE TWO ROWS OF ROLLS, WHICH ARE PROVIDED WITH PERIPHERAL GROOVES FOR THE WORKPIECE. MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR ADJUSTING THE SHAFTSUPPORTED ROLLS VERTICALLY TO DEFLECT A WORKPIECE IN A VERTICAL PLANE, AND OTHER MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR MOVING THE SAME ROLLS AXIALLY IN ORDER TO DEFLECT THE WORKPIECE IN A

March 6, 1973 o. J. SKAWDEN 3,719,067

STRAIGHTENING MACHINE F'lled Dec. 13 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOR/VEKE 0.J. SKAWDEN STRAIGHTENING MACHINE March 6, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FlledDec. 13 1971 6) aW wwQmm March 6, 1973 o. J. SKAWDEN STRAIGHTENINGMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 13 1971 5 MN H 75 N N R LW 0 M w M AJ D m 8V amwa ,wwm

March 6, Q J SKAWDEN S'J'RAIGHTENING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Flled Dec.13 1971 I/VVf/VTOR. ODD J. SKA WOE/V ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofice 3,719,067 Patented Mar. 6, 1973 3,719,067STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Odd J. Skawden, Bellefonte, Pa., assignor toSutton Engineering Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Dec. 13, 1971, Ser.No. 207,060 Int. Cl. B2141 3/02 US. Cl. 72-164 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A straightening machine has upper and lower rows of laterallyspacedrolls with parallel horizontal axes. Extending away from one sideof the rolls in one row are supporting shafts that are supported forrotation and axial adjustment. The other rolls are driven to carry anelongated metal workpiece along between the two rows of rolls, which areprovided with peripheral grooves for the workpiece. Means are providedfor adjusting the shaftsupported rolls vertically to deflect a workpiecein a vertical plane, andother means are provided for moving the samerolls axially in order to deflect the workpiece in a horizontal planealso. Means operatively connecting the vertical adjusting means with thehorizontal roll-moving means permit both to be adjusted simultaneouslyin a single operation.

In straightening machines of the staggered roll type known heretofore,the row or train of upper rolls have been adjustable up and down inorder to accommodate elongated workpieces of various sizes and todeflect the workpieces a desired amount in a vertical plane to achievestraightness. Provision has also been made for adjusting one row ofrolls axially so that the workpieces could be deflected in a horizontalplane at the same time. There are advantages in this which are wellknown in the industry and do not need to be repeated here. To make thevertical adjustment of the rolls it is customary to operate screw downs.On the other hand, when axial adjustment of a row of rolls is desired,it has been done by turning a shaft in the desired direction in order tomove the rolls in or out. It is highly desirable that the two types ofadjustments be coordinated so that when the rolls in one row areadjusted vertically in one direction the same rolls will be adjustedaxially a proportionate amount. However, this requires the operator tomake two different types of adjustments and it has been found thatsometimes he becomes confused and does not adjust the rolls properly.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a straighteningmachine in which a row of rolls can be adjusted both vertically andaxially, in which both adjustments can be made simultaneously as thevertical adjustment is made, and in which each type of adjustment can bemade independently of the other whenever desired.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a front view of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on approximately the line IIIIII ofFIG. 1; and I FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the lineIVIV of FIG. 3.

' Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing 1 of a straightening machinesupports a lower row of horizontally spaced rolls 2, each of which isprovided with a peripheral groove. The rolls are rigidly mounted on thefront ends of parallel horizontal shafts 3 that are journalled in thehousing. Rigidly mounted on the rear ends of the shafts are gears 4(FIG. 3), by which the shafts can be rotated from the usual speedreducer 5 driven by an electric motor 6 as shown in FIG. 2. Extendingupwardly above the roll shafts are spaced parallel portions of themachine housing. Be-

tween these portions and guided by them are vertically adjustable frames7. Journalled in the lower part of each frame, as shown in FIG. 3, is ahorizontal shaft 8 that extends forward from the frame. A roll 9 isrigidly mounted on the projecting front end of each of these shafts andlikewise is provided with a peripheral groove for an elongated metalworkpiece of uniform cross section, whether tubular or solid. Theworkpiece shall be referred to herein as a bar. It will be seen in FIG.1 that the rolls in this upper row are staggered relative to the lowerrolls, as is customary in this type of machine.

Each frame 7 is supported by a screw-down, which in turn is supported bypart of the machine housing above the frame. The screw-down includes avertical screw 11 rigidly connected to the top of the underlying frameand extending up into the housing 12 of the screw-down. Journalledinside this housing is an internally threaded worm gear (not shown)mounted on the screw and meshing with a horizontal worm that isjournalled in one side of thehousing. This worm is rigidly mounted on ashaft 13 that can be turned by a hand Wheel 14 or other suitable meansat the front of the machine. When the wheel is turned, the frame 7supported by the screw-down will either descend or ascend, dependingupon which way the wheel is turned.

Each of the roll shafts 8 in the upper row is movable axially in itssupporting frame so that its roll 9 can be offset relative to the row ofrolls below it. To move the shaft lengthwise, an externally threadedsleeve 16 is rotatably mounted on its rear end and extends through astationary nut 17 secured to the adjoining frame. The sleeve cannot moveaxially on the shaft, but it can move axially with the shaft in thesupporting frame. Rigidly connected with the rear end of the threadedsleeve is a gear 18 that meshes with a wide pinion 19 keyed on the rearor inner end of a horizontal shaft 20 rotatably mounted in the frameabove the level of the upper row of rolls. The outer end of this shaftis provided with a hand wheel or removable crank 21 for turning it,whereupon the pinion 19 will rotate gear 18, which in turn will causethe threaded sleeve 16 to move forward or backward through thestationary nut 17 and thereby adjust the shaft 8 lengthwise in theframe, since the sleeve and the front bearing 22 can slide in the frame.

It is a feature of this invention that the axail adjustment of the upperrolls just described can be accomplished by simply turning the handwheels that operate the screwdowns, so that as the rolls are moved up ordown they will also be adjusted axially a proportionate amount that canbe predetermined. To accomplish this, the worm shaft 13 of eachscrew-down extends back through a vertical slot in the adjacent frame 7and into a gear box 25, in which the shaft is journalled. The gear boxis suitably supported near the back of the machine. Rotatably mounted onthe shaft in the front of the gear box is a relatively large gear 26that is provided with a rearwardly extending ring gear 27 havinginternal teeth. In this back part of the gear box a pinion 28 isrotatably mounted on shaft 13 and is provided with a forwardly extendingring gear 29 corresponding to the one in front of it. The gear 26 andpinion 28 are spaced apart by a central enlargement of the shaft betweenthem, on which is splined a wide clutch gear 31 provided with a centralcircumferential recess 32.

When the clutch gear is centered between the two ring gears it does notengage either one, but if it is moved forward or backward on the shaftinto one of the ring gears it will mesh with the teeth therein. In orderto move the clutch gear for this purpose there is a forked lever 33straddling that gear as shown in FIG. 4. The lever is pivotally mountedin the gear box and has rounded upper ends disposed in gear recess 32.The lower end of the lever is pivotally connected to the rear end of aclutch rod 34 that extends forward out of the gear box and through slotsin a frame 7 and out of the front of it. By pushing or pulling this rod,the clutch gear can be engaged with either of the ring gears, or freedfrom both of them.

The front gear 26 in the gear box meshes with a similar gear 36 rigidlymounted on a shaft 37 journalled in the lower part of the box. Thepinion 28, on the other hand, meshes with an idler pinion 38 journalledin the gear box and meshing with another pinion 39 rigidly mountedon thelower shaft 37. The front end of this shaft is connected throughuniversal joints 40 with pinion 19 on the rear end of the shaft 20.Consequently, if the clutch gear is moved into engagement with the frontring gear and then the hand wheel is turned, the gear 26 will turn gear36 below it and that will turn pinion 19, which in turn will rotate thethreaded sleeve 16 and thereby move the upper roll shaft 8 lengthwise inone direction. If it is desired to move the upper roll in the oppositedirection while it is being moved in the same direction vertically, theclutch rod is pulled out to cause the clutch gear to mesh with the rearring gear. The adjoining train of three pinions will then turn thebottom shaft 37 in a direction opposite to what it would be turned bythe front gears, and of course that will cause the roll to be movedaxially in the opposite direction also.

If, by turning a hand wheel as just explained, an upper roll is movedaxially the desired amount but has not moved vertically as far asdesired, the clutch rod associated with it can be moved to disconnectthe adjoining clutch gear from both ring gears. Then the hand wheel canbe turned to make the vertical adjustment without affecting thehorizontal adjustment of the roll. In the same way the upper roll can beadjusted axially by its adjusting crank without requiring the screw-downto be operated. Consequently, with this machine the vertical andhorizontal adjustments of the upper rolls can be made independently ofeach other, or simultaneously by simply turning the shafts that make thevertical adjustments.

Normally the ratio between the vertical and axial adjustments of theupper rolls is 1 to 1, so that when the two adjustments are clutchedtogether the upper rolls will move at a 45 angle to a plane containingthe axes of the lower rolls. A dilferent ratio can be selected andobtained by altering the gear ratios or the pitch of the threads onsleeves 16, and that will provide movement of the upper rolls in adirection other than 45 If desired, the lower roll shafts 3 may also bemade axially adjustable.

Although the machine shown in the drawings has rolls with horizontalaxes, which is the most practiced arrangement, and the upper rolls havebeen described as being adjustable axially, it will be understood thatthe machine could be disposed with the roll axes vertical or at aninclination, or it could be the rolls in the lower row that are axiallyadjustable. The invention would be the same. In the claims, forconvenience only, the rolls have been described as having horizontalaxes.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciple of my invention and have illustrated and described what I nowconsider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have itunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated anddescribed.

I claim:

1. A straightening machine for elongated metal workpieces, comprisingupper and lower rows of laterally spaced rolls having parallelhorizontal axes, the upper rolls being located above the spaces betweenthe lower rolls, the rolls being provided with peripheral grooves forreceiving a workpiece to be straightened, shafts extending horizontallyaway from one side of the rolls in one row for supporting them, meanssupporting said shafts for rotation and axial adjustment, means fordriving the rolls in the other row to carry a workpiece along betweenthe two rows of rolls, means for adjusting said shaftsupprting meansvertically to raise and lower the shaftsupported rolls in order todeflect a workpiece a desired amount in a vertical plane, means formoving said shafts axially to adjust the rolls supported thereby axiallyto deflect the workpiece in a horizontal plane also, and meansoperatively connecting said adjusting means with said shaft-moving meansfor simultaneous operation of both.

2. A straightening machine according to claim 1, including means fordisengaging said shaft-moving means from said vertically adjustingmeans, and means for then operating said shaft-moving meansindependently of said adjusting means. I

3. A straightening machine according to claim 1, in which saidshaft-moving means include stationary screwthreaded members secured tosaid shaft-supporting means, rotatable screw-threaded members connectedwith said roll shafts and registering with said stationary threadedmembers, and means for rotating said rotatable members to move themaxially.

4. A straightening machine according to claim 3, in which said rotatingmeans include two trains of gears for each of said rotatablescrew-threaded members, and manually operable means for connectingeither train of gears with a vertically adjusting means and a saidrotatable member, one of said trains of gears turning said rotatablemember in one direction as a shaft-supported roll is lowered and theother train turning said member in the opposite direction as said rollis lowered.

5. A straightening machine according to claim 1, in which saidvertically adjusting means include screw-downs for said shaft-supportingmeans, and manually rotatable shafts for turning the screw-downs, andsaid connecting means include a pair of gears rotatably mounted on eachof said screw-down shafts, manually operable clutching means foroperatively connecting the shaft with either of said gears, and separatemeans driven by the gears for moving a roll shaft axially in eitherdirection.

6. A straightening machine according to claim 5, in which saidgear-driven means include a shaft rotatable in opposite directions, andmanually operable meansfo'r r0- tating that shaft when said clutchingmeans is disengaged from both of said gears.

7. A straightening machine according to claim 1, in which saidshaft-moving means include stationary screwthreaded members secured tosaid shaft-supporting means, rotatable screw-threaded members connectedwith said roll shafts and registering with said stationary'threadedmembers, a gear connected to each rotatable member for turning it, apinion meshing with each gear, a manually rotatable shaft for turningeach pinion, said vertically adjusting means being provided for eachshaft-supported roll, means rotatable by each adjusting means, andclutching means for operatively connecting each of said rotatable meanswith one of said pinions.

MILTON sI ,MEHR, Primary Examiner

